US Vice President Joe Biden raised some eyebrows this St Patrick's Day when he told the Taoiseach Enda Kenny and wife Fionnuala that "if you're wearing orange, you're not welcome in here."

Greeting the pair for breakfast at his home, Mr Biden made the remark as he embraced Mr Kenny this morning.

Expected to discuss with the Taoiseach issues surrounding Northern Ireland and his plans to make an official visit to the Republic, the gaffe prone Mr Biden my have landed himself in hot water with the comment.

“Jesus, Joe Biden... How are you still let speak out loud in public with other people around,” said one Irish Twitter user.

“Clearly not referring to prisoners thru Shannon,” said another, referencing the US military flights passing through Shannon Airport in Clare.

The breakfast meeting at the vice-president’s residence comes ahead of a bilateral meeting with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office, after which Mr Kenny and his wife are expected to spend time with the President and First Lady Michelle Obama.

DUP MP for South Antrim William McCrea called on Mr Biden to apologise.

Mr McCrea said: "I appreciate the Vice-President later said his ‘orange’ remark was a joke. I don’t see it as humorous in the manner it was said. When Northern Ireland is making such an effort to make St Patrick’s Day an inclusive celebration, Joe Biden’s comments were disgraceful and careless.

"Whether they were intended as a joke or not, the comments are a slur on those who would be known as ‘orange’ i.e. Protestants. This term is much wider than anyone who is a member of the Orange Order. It has traditionally been used to define people from the Protestant faith.

"VP Biden should apologise for his remarks and take corrective action to prove in a practical way that people who are from a Protestant background are welcome in the White House. Undoubtedly if he had made such a remark about any other faith group there would be calls for his resignation."